An Editorial
Governor Gregoire has called the Legislature into a Special Session starting November 28. Her goal: To make up for declining revenues with an additional $2 billion in cuts from state programs. The Legislature has already carved a cruel $10 billion from health care, education and other essential services in the past three years. We cannot hold still for even more drastic cuts.
In the next weeks, every PSARA member will be needed in this struggle that will shape our future as a state. You will be asked to call and write your legislators/ To testify about the impact on your life of specific cuts. If possible, to come to Olympia with thousands of others to create a human wall of protest. With our allies from the labor movement and the community, we must make it clear to our legislators that business as usual is a thing of the past.
Plainly, the life-and-death need of the hour is substantial new revenue.
And hidden in hundreds of special-interest tax exemptions, the needed revenue is there to be tapped. The Washington State Budget and Policy Center has identified these tax breaks. They drain $6.5 billion in revenue annually, year after year. They are never examined to see whether they fulfill a useful purpose.
The alternative to new revenue is unthinkable. The governor’s approach, to look for $2 billion in additional cuts, will lay waste to programs that meet fundamental human needs.
The proposals currently on the table would wipe out long term care services for more than 17,000 people, a 29 percent cut from the current case- load. Here’s who would lose the services they depend upon, as reported in the Senior Scene for October:
• 11,700 who would lose homecare assistance
• 1,000 now living in Adult Family Homes
• 2,700 living in assisted living facilities
• 1,000 living in boarding homes
• 450 living in nursing homes
And that’s just one aspect of the reductions in human services, that impacting long-term care. Other proposals include the elimination of the Basic Health Plan, the Disability Lifeline, interpretive services, health care coverage for immigrant children, maternity support services, adult pharmacy benefits – and the list goes on.
In the budget adopted in the 2011 session, funding for long term care was cut by $98.1 million, translating into a 10 percent reduction in personal care hours per patient per month. Many in long term care need assistance around the clock and have nowhere else to turn. No one, least of all elderly men and women, should have to worry about being deprived of the care they need.
In the current economy, the state’s modest safety net programs are needed more than ever. Families and communities are struggling to get by. Unemployment is rampant, people are losing health insurance, homes are heavily mortgaged or are being foreclosed.
Confronted with these multiple challenges, an all-cuts budget is simply indefensible. It shifts the burden of the budget deficit still more oppressively onto the backs of the most vulnerable.
The Legislature must hear from the people.
Showing posts with label special session. Show all posts
Showing posts with label special session. Show all posts
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Three Initiatives and a Special Session
By Robby Stern
Our ballots will arrive in the mail within several weeks. PSARA has taken a position on three important initiatives on the ballot. The fate of these initiatives will have an impact on our future and the future of our state. For those of you who do not want to read more, we recommend:
NO on I-1125. NO on I-1183. YES on I-1163.
Tim Eyman’s newest broadside is Initiative 1125. The bulk of the contributions to I-1125, over $1 million, come from Kemper Freeman, a Bellevue developer. According to Eyman, I - 1125 is intended to block the voter-approved construction of light rail on I–90 across the Lake Washington Bridge. I–1125 also threatens the Evergreen Point floating bridge replacement, Clark County’s Columbia River Crossing, the Alaska Way Viaduct replacement and multiple other projects around the state. It also threatens thousands of much-needed good-paying jobs.
The vehicle Eyman uses to achieve his purposes is to remove the setting of toll rates from an independent nonpartisan commission and instead require the legislature to set toll rates. Every other state in the country has an independent commission setting toll rates to avoid the political gridlock that frequently occurs when elected politicians make these decisions. According to an independent analysis for the State Treasurer, the initiative will cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in increased bond costs to pay for transportation projects.
PSARA recommends we vote NO on I-1125.
In 2008, voters overwhelmingly passed I–1029, which required criminal background checks and increased training for long-term care workers who assist vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities. In the 2010 legislative session, the legislature reduced the training requirements and delayed the criminal background checks. Initiative 1163, on the ballot this year, restores the training requirements and criminal background checks for long-term care workers.
Hairdressers must have 1000 hours of training and nail technicians 600 hours of training. Home care workers do difficult and important work visiting seriously ill seniors and people with disabilities. They help them dress, bathe, clean, get out of bed and cook so they can stay in their own homes. Under present law, they will not be getting the training and certification they need. Nursing home caregivers must have 85 hours of training while home care workers who provide the same kind of care in a more isolated setting get no similar level of training.
I have not yet met a senior who has told me they want to age in a nursing home. All of us aspire to age in our own homes where we feel more connected to our families and communities. Without qualified and trained caregivers who can help us live safely in our own homes, the most vulnerable among us will be forced into nursing homes. Requiring training and background checks is a common sense approach to the growing need for home care workers.
PSARA members at our membership meeting voted to endorse I-1163 and to recommend a YES vote.
Last November, Washington voters said NO to privatization of liquor sales. Costco and other large retailers have returned with I-1183, which will create five times as many hard liquor retailers. The Centers for Disease Control says that will likely lead to more than a 50 percent increase in consumption. It is predicted that one of every four minors attempting to buy alcohol from private retailers will succeed. When big corporations spend large amounts of money to pass an initiative like I-1183, you can bet it is not for the public good.
PSARA recommends a NO vote on I-1183.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The Upcoming Special Session
The damage that Wall Street and the banks have done to our economy is just astonishing. The suffering they caused is growing worse and worse. Those who created this recession/depression continue to do very well. The wealth gap continues to grow to historic proportions.
Revenue to the state has declined even more than had been anticipated in the 2010 legislative session. The September revenue forecast predicted an additional $1.4 billion decline in revenue and Gov. Gregoire indicated the need for a special session after the November forecast to address the reduced revenue.
PSARA believes that cuts to education, healthcare and other essential services undermine any hope for an economic recovery. After billions and billions in cuts, our communities cannot afford any more cuts to jobs, our future and our quality of life. We will not be able to cut ourselves out of this crisis. Revenue must be part of the solution. Our elected leaders should pass a referendum to the people (if they cannot muster the required 60% vote) ending unfair tax breaks. Let voters decide whether we end unfair tax breaks -- or make deeper budget cuts.
Our ballots will arrive in the mail within several weeks. PSARA has taken a position on three important initiatives on the ballot. The fate of these initiatives will have an impact on our future and the future of our state. For those of you who do not want to read more, we recommend:
NO on I-1125. NO on I-1183. YES on I-1163.
Tim Eyman’s newest broadside is Initiative 1125. The bulk of the contributions to I-1125, over $1 million, come from Kemper Freeman, a Bellevue developer. According to Eyman, I - 1125 is intended to block the voter-approved construction of light rail on I–90 across the Lake Washington Bridge. I–1125 also threatens the Evergreen Point floating bridge replacement, Clark County’s Columbia River Crossing, the Alaska Way Viaduct replacement and multiple other projects around the state. It also threatens thousands of much-needed good-paying jobs.
The vehicle Eyman uses to achieve his purposes is to remove the setting of toll rates from an independent nonpartisan commission and instead require the legislature to set toll rates. Every other state in the country has an independent commission setting toll rates to avoid the political gridlock that frequently occurs when elected politicians make these decisions. According to an independent analysis for the State Treasurer, the initiative will cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in increased bond costs to pay for transportation projects.
PSARA recommends we vote NO on I-1125.
In 2008, voters overwhelmingly passed I–1029, which required criminal background checks and increased training for long-term care workers who assist vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities. In the 2010 legislative session, the legislature reduced the training requirements and delayed the criminal background checks. Initiative 1163, on the ballot this year, restores the training requirements and criminal background checks for long-term care workers.
Hairdressers must have 1000 hours of training and nail technicians 600 hours of training. Home care workers do difficult and important work visiting seriously ill seniors and people with disabilities. They help them dress, bathe, clean, get out of bed and cook so they can stay in their own homes. Under present law, they will not be getting the training and certification they need. Nursing home caregivers must have 85 hours of training while home care workers who provide the same kind of care in a more isolated setting get no similar level of training.
I have not yet met a senior who has told me they want to age in a nursing home. All of us aspire to age in our own homes where we feel more connected to our families and communities. Without qualified and trained caregivers who can help us live safely in our own homes, the most vulnerable among us will be forced into nursing homes. Requiring training and background checks is a common sense approach to the growing need for home care workers.
PSARA members at our membership meeting voted to endorse I-1163 and to recommend a YES vote.
Last November, Washington voters said NO to privatization of liquor sales. Costco and other large retailers have returned with I-1183, which will create five times as many hard liquor retailers. The Centers for Disease Control says that will likely lead to more than a 50 percent increase in consumption. It is predicted that one of every four minors attempting to buy alcohol from private retailers will succeed. When big corporations spend large amounts of money to pass an initiative like I-1183, you can bet it is not for the public good.
PSARA recommends a NO vote on I-1183.
* * * * * * * * * * * *
The Upcoming Special Session
The damage that Wall Street and the banks have done to our economy is just astonishing. The suffering they caused is growing worse and worse. Those who created this recession/depression continue to do very well. The wealth gap continues to grow to historic proportions.
Revenue to the state has declined even more than had been anticipated in the 2010 legislative session. The September revenue forecast predicted an additional $1.4 billion decline in revenue and Gov. Gregoire indicated the need for a special session after the November forecast to address the reduced revenue.
PSARA believes that cuts to education, healthcare and other essential services undermine any hope for an economic recovery. After billions and billions in cuts, our communities cannot afford any more cuts to jobs, our future and our quality of life. We will not be able to cut ourselves out of this crisis. Revenue must be part of the solution. Our elected leaders should pass a referendum to the people (if they cannot muster the required 60% vote) ending unfair tax breaks. Let voters decide whether we end unfair tax breaks -- or make deeper budget cuts.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Special session confronts revenue crisis
By Mike Andrew
As The Advocate goes to press, the legislature goes into special session, still hoping to find a solution to the state’s ongoing revenue crisis.
The regular session of the legislature adjourned Friday, April 22. While lawmakers were in session for 103 days, just two days short of the constitutionally mandated maximum, they failed to agree on either an operating or a construction budget.
The challenge was to close a revenue shortfall in the 2012-2013 budget that is projected to be at least $5 billion. Some projections say the shortfall could be as much as $7 billion.
Unlike the federal government, which can and does borrow money to cover budget shortages, the state government is required to balance its budget.
The special session begins Tuesday, April 26, with most budget issues still up for grabs.
The legislature’s task will be more complicated because of Tim Eyman’s I-1053, which reinstated a burdensome 2/3 majority requirement for the legislature to raise taxes.
After I-1053 passed in November, Gov. Christine Gregoire abandoned any attempt to close the budget gap by raising revenues, and presented an all-cuts budget to the legislature.
Some very painful cuts have already been made, with many Democrats voting with Republicans to cut the state’s social spending.
SHB 2021, for example, gets rid of automatic COLA increases in pension payments to the state’s Teachers Plan 1 and Public Employees Plan 1 participants.
More than 108,000 people will see their pensions cut eventually, including more than 90,000 already retired who will lose pension increases immediately.
SHB 2021 passed the senate by a 28-17 vote with 18 Democrats and 10 Republicans in favor. The measure passed the House 52-45 on April 21 and now goes to the governor for her signature.
The Children's Health Insurance Program (Apple Health) and the Disability Lifeline Program are also slated for deep cuts, although they will not be totally eliminated as they were in the governor’s proposed budget.
If the Senate budget proposal is finalized by the special session, more than 16,000 of the 123,000 low-income children now participating in Apple Health will lose their medical coverage.
Cash grants for the disabled under the Disability Lifeline program are likely to disappear, to be replaced by a lower level of housing assistance payments.
The State Food Assistance Program (Basic Food) provides food stamps for low income and disabled people. If the state Senate has its way, some 1 million households would see their benefits reduced by 50%.
This program is also imperiled by federal budget cuts recommended by Rep. Paul Ryan.
Fortunately a federal judge has ordered the state not to reduce food stamps benefits pending the outcome of a lawsuit.
In contrast to the governor’s all-cuts strategy, freshman House members led by Reps. Laurie Jinkins of Tacoma and Chris Reykdal of Tumwater proposed to raise state revenues by closing some tax loopholes.
HB 2078, targets bank interest earnings that are not taxed in Washington and sales taxes that are not paid by out-of-state shoppers. The bill would raise an estimated $143 million for class size reductions in grades K-3 over the next two years.
HB 2102 provides mental health funding by targeting the same sales-tax exemption for out-of-state shoppers. HB 2087 for home-care also targets out-of-state shoppers and includes debt collectors.
None of these bills were acted on in the regular legislative session and may resurface in the special session.
Two bills that will make changes to the state ferry system are deadlocked because of differences between the House and Senate versions, and will also continue into the special session.
HB 1516 — approved April 26 by the House — establishes performance goals for the ferry system and requires ferry management to submit a series of performance reports. The Senate is sitting on that bill.
SB 5742 — approved April 26 by the Senate — would abolish the Marine Employees' Commission, which handles worker-management disputes in the ferry system. The House has now stalled that bill.
The ferry workers’ union, the IBU, is against abolishing the MEC, because workers see the MEC as a relatively fair and non-adversarial venue for settling disputes.
HB 1511, which would have restricted ferry workers’ collective bargaining rights, is considered dead in the water because its companion bill on the Senate side died in committee.
ESB 5566, the so-called “compromise-and-release” workers' compensation bill will also reappear in the special session, because the Senate has declared it "necessary to implement the budget."
The measure would undermine the state’s workers’ compensation system by allowing employers to offer injured workers one-time lump sum payments instead of the “sure and certain relief” that has always been guaranteed to workers by law.
ESB 5566 passed the Senate 34-15 – again with many Democrats voting with Republicans to pass it. It has been held up by the House Labor Committee.
Although I-1053 prevents the legislature from easily raising taxes, the measure does not cover state fees, and a total of 92 fees are slated to be increased if Democratic proposals pass in the special session.
Among them are a 25-cent ferry surcharge which would go to building new ferries, a 60% increase in driver’s license renewal, and a new $20 charge for a driver’s first Washington license plates.
Rep. Bob Hasegawa’s HB 1320, creating a state bank to be called the Washington Investment Trust, is considered dead and will not reappear in the special session.
Also likely to disappear are two bills to privatize state liquor stores.
SB 5942, which is backed by a private group called the Washington Beverage Company, would privatize only the wholesale distribution side of the liquor business.
SB 5933, supported by retail giant Costco, would completely close all state liquor stores.
At her press conference announcing the special session, Gov. Gregoire said the bills “don’t pan out” in terms of replacing state revenue that would be lost by turning liquor sales over to private companies.
As The Advocate goes to press, the legislature goes into special session, still hoping to find a solution to the state’s ongoing revenue crisis.
The regular session of the legislature adjourned Friday, April 22. While lawmakers were in session for 103 days, just two days short of the constitutionally mandated maximum, they failed to agree on either an operating or a construction budget.
The challenge was to close a revenue shortfall in the 2012-2013 budget that is projected to be at least $5 billion. Some projections say the shortfall could be as much as $7 billion.
Unlike the federal government, which can and does borrow money to cover budget shortages, the state government is required to balance its budget.
The special session begins Tuesday, April 26, with most budget issues still up for grabs.
The legislature’s task will be more complicated because of Tim Eyman’s I-1053, which reinstated a burdensome 2/3 majority requirement for the legislature to raise taxes.
After I-1053 passed in November, Gov. Christine Gregoire abandoned any attempt to close the budget gap by raising revenues, and presented an all-cuts budget to the legislature.
Some very painful cuts have already been made, with many Democrats voting with Republicans to cut the state’s social spending.
SHB 2021, for example, gets rid of automatic COLA increases in pension payments to the state’s Teachers Plan 1 and Public Employees Plan 1 participants.
More than 108,000 people will see their pensions cut eventually, including more than 90,000 already retired who will lose pension increases immediately.
SHB 2021 passed the senate by a 28-17 vote with 18 Democrats and 10 Republicans in favor. The measure passed the House 52-45 on April 21 and now goes to the governor for her signature.
The Children's Health Insurance Program (Apple Health) and the Disability Lifeline Program are also slated for deep cuts, although they will not be totally eliminated as they were in the governor’s proposed budget.
If the Senate budget proposal is finalized by the special session, more than 16,000 of the 123,000 low-income children now participating in Apple Health will lose their medical coverage.
Cash grants for the disabled under the Disability Lifeline program are likely to disappear, to be replaced by a lower level of housing assistance payments.
The State Food Assistance Program (Basic Food) provides food stamps for low income and disabled people. If the state Senate has its way, some 1 million households would see their benefits reduced by 50%.
This program is also imperiled by federal budget cuts recommended by Rep. Paul Ryan.
Fortunately a federal judge has ordered the state not to reduce food stamps benefits pending the outcome of a lawsuit.
In contrast to the governor’s all-cuts strategy, freshman House members led by Reps. Laurie Jinkins of Tacoma and Chris Reykdal of Tumwater proposed to raise state revenues by closing some tax loopholes.
HB 2078, targets bank interest earnings that are not taxed in Washington and sales taxes that are not paid by out-of-state shoppers. The bill would raise an estimated $143 million for class size reductions in grades K-3 over the next two years.
HB 2102 provides mental health funding by targeting the same sales-tax exemption for out-of-state shoppers. HB 2087 for home-care also targets out-of-state shoppers and includes debt collectors.
None of these bills were acted on in the regular legislative session and may resurface in the special session.
Two bills that will make changes to the state ferry system are deadlocked because of differences between the House and Senate versions, and will also continue into the special session.
HB 1516 — approved April 26 by the House — establishes performance goals for the ferry system and requires ferry management to submit a series of performance reports. The Senate is sitting on that bill.
SB 5742 — approved April 26 by the Senate — would abolish the Marine Employees' Commission, which handles worker-management disputes in the ferry system. The House has now stalled that bill.
The ferry workers’ union, the IBU, is against abolishing the MEC, because workers see the MEC as a relatively fair and non-adversarial venue for settling disputes.
HB 1511, which would have restricted ferry workers’ collective bargaining rights, is considered dead in the water because its companion bill on the Senate side died in committee.
ESB 5566, the so-called “compromise-and-release” workers' compensation bill will also reappear in the special session, because the Senate has declared it "necessary to implement the budget."
The measure would undermine the state’s workers’ compensation system by allowing employers to offer injured workers one-time lump sum payments instead of the “sure and certain relief” that has always been guaranteed to workers by law.
ESB 5566 passed the Senate 34-15 – again with many Democrats voting with Republicans to pass it. It has been held up by the House Labor Committee.
Although I-1053 prevents the legislature from easily raising taxes, the measure does not cover state fees, and a total of 92 fees are slated to be increased if Democratic proposals pass in the special session.
Among them are a 25-cent ferry surcharge which would go to building new ferries, a 60% increase in driver’s license renewal, and a new $20 charge for a driver’s first Washington license plates.
Rep. Bob Hasegawa’s HB 1320, creating a state bank to be called the Washington Investment Trust, is considered dead and will not reappear in the special session.
Also likely to disappear are two bills to privatize state liquor stores.
SB 5942, which is backed by a private group called the Washington Beverage Company, would privatize only the wholesale distribution side of the liquor business.
SB 5933, supported by retail giant Costco, would completely close all state liquor stores.
At her press conference announcing the special session, Gov. Gregoire said the bills “don’t pan out” in terms of replacing state revenue that would be lost by turning liquor sales over to private companies.
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